YAHOO SPORTS' Wojnarowski & Forde cite sources as saying that the NCAA "is looking into the possibility" that NBA player agent RICH PAUL, who represents Heat F LEBRON JAMES, "provided improper benefits" to Univ. of Texas basketball player MYCK KABONGO. James and two former Univ. of Texas players -- Cavaliers F TRISTAN THOMPSON and Spurs G CORY JOSEPH -- are "represented by Paul's new management company, Klutch Sports." Sources said that Paul "called NBA front offices on behalf of Kabongo before this year's NBA draft." Paul said, "It's no crime to have a relationship with the kid. Of course, I know Myck through Tristan and Cory. I haven't been contacted by the NCAA and I wouldn't put a kid in harm's way." Wojnarowski & Forde wrote, "One element of what sources describe as a wide-ranging NCAA probe centers on whether Paul played a role in Kabongo traveling to Cleveland this spring on a trip that included at least one workout with New York-based professional trainer, JERRY POWELL" (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 10/10).
BACK TO SCHOOL: Blue Jackets LW R.J. UMBERGER will join the Ohio State Univ. men's hockey team "as a volunteer coach this season, at least as long as the lockout lasts." The job will be "as much or as little as Umberger and the Buckeyes players want to make of it." It is "unclear whether Umberger will travel" with the team. He will "officially join the OSU staff on Monday." Umberger played hockey at OSU from '00-03 (COLUMBUS DISPATCH, 10/10).
MR. PINK: Ravens QB JOE FLACCO "has lent his name" to Baltimore-based charitable organization The Red Devils for a "new 'Pink Power' T-shirt." The Red Devils will "use money raised by the shirts to help breast cancer patients and their families." Featured on the shirt will be "a pink silhouette of Flacco, his name and the well-recognized breast cancer ribbon." The shirts will sell for $27 and will "be available through October." Flacco also is "donating a pair of signed spikes to the organization's Bull and Oyster Roast on Nov. 3" (BALTIMORESUN.com, 10/10).
AWARDS & HONORS: CBS golf analyst DAVID FEHERTY today will be awarded the Outstanding Civilian Service Award for his service in support of the U.S. Army via the Troops First Foundation (CBS Sports)....Baseball HOFer GARY CARTER "will have a street and park named after him in Montreal." The street is "one that borders Jarry Park, where the Expos played for most of their first decade and where Carter got his big-league start" (CP, 10/10).
NAMES: Nuggets G TY LAWSON hired agent HAPPY WALTERS, who also represents Nuggets F COREY BREWER (DENVER POST, 10/10)....The Jaguars will partner with the Boy Scouts of America North Florida Council on the "Every Boy Deserves a Chance" capital campaign with a dollar-for-dollar $100,000 match (JACKSONVILLE.com, 10/10)....Braves manager FREDI GONZALEZ and former Magic GM OTIS SMITH on Sunday will join former Magic coach STAN VAN GUNDY at an Orlando fundraiser that will contribute to the Citizens for Preservation of Property Values, a campaign for a proposed tax increase that is "up in a voter referendum in the Nov. 6 general election" (ORLANDOSENTINEL.com, 10/10)....Knicks F AMAR’E STOUDEMIRE will be the exec producer of the sports documentary “LITTLE BALLERS.” Author and producer CRYSTAL MCCRARY “will direct the doc, which follows four young athletes” as they go through AAU basketball in hopes of turning pro (N.Y. POST, 10/11)….Snowboarder SHAUN WHITE "did not appear in state court on Wednesday for allegations of public intoxication and vandalism.” His attorney said that White’s case “has been moved to a settlement discussion docket" (Nashville TENNESSEAN, 10/10)….Yankees SS DEREK JETER “sold his penthouse” at the Trump World Tower for $15.5M to Brazilian magnate SILVIO LUIZ REICHERT (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 10/10)….Celtics G RAJON RONDO yesterday celebrated his Boston Common magazine cover at the Liberty Hotel (BOSTON HERALD, 10/10).
IN MEMORY: Former Chicago journalist BILL JAUSS, who "spent 50 years as a sportswriter," died yesterday at the age of 81. Jauss retired from the Chicago Tribune in '05 after 37 years with the Tribune Company. He was a member of the “SPORTSWRITERS ON TV” panel that included “cigar-smoking characters BILL GLEASON, RICK TELANDER and host BEN BENTLEY.” A memorial service is scheduled for 4:00pm CT Monday at Presbyterian Church of Wilmette (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 10/10)....Visitation for late Red Wings PA announcer BUDD LYNCH will be from 12:00-7:00pm ET tomorrow at R.J. Nixon Funeral Home in Wyandotte, Mich., followed by a rosary service at 7:00pm. Lynch will lie in state from 9:00-10:30am on Saturday at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Wyandotte (DETROIT FREE PRESS, 10/11).
